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Book XVII。 How the Laws of Political Servitude Bear a Relation to the Nature of the Climate
1。 Of political Servitude。 Political servitude does not less depend on the nature of the climate than that which is civil and domestic； and this we shall now demonstrate。
2。 The Difference between Nations in point of Courage。 We have already observed that great heat enervates the strength and courage of men； and that in cold climates they have a certain vigour of body and mind； which renders them patient and intrepid； and qualifies them for arduous enterprises。 This remark holds good； not only between different nations； but even in the different parts of the same country。 In the north of China＇1＇ people are more courageous than those in the south； and those in the south of Korea＇2＇ have less bravery than those in the north。
We ought not； then； to be astonished that the effeminacy of the people in hot climates has almost always rendered them slaves； and that the bravery of those in cold climates has enabled them to maintain their liberties。 This is an effect which springs from a natural cause。
This has also been found true in America； the despotic empires of Mexico and Peru were near the Line； and almost all the little free nations were； and are still； near the Poles。
3。 Of the Climate of Asia。 The relations of travellers＇3＇ inform us 〃that the vast continent of the north of Asia； which extends from forty degrees or thereabouts to the Pole； and from the frontiers of Muscovy even to the eastern ocean； is in an extremely cold climate； that this immense tract of land is divided by a chain of mountains which run from west to east； leaving Siberia on the north； and Great Tartary on the south； that the climate of Siberia is so cold that； excepting a few places； it is unsusceptible of cultivation； and that； though the Russians have settlements all along the Irtis； they cultivate nothing； that this country produces only some little firs and shrubs； that the natives of the country are divided into wretched hordes or tribes； like those of Canada； that the reason of this cold proceeds； on the one hand； from the height of the land； and on the other from the mountains； which； in proportion as they run from south to north； are levelled in such a manner that the north wind everywhere blows without opposition； that this wind； which renders Nova Zembia uninhabitable； blowing in Siberia makes it a barren waste； that in Europe； on the contrary； the mountains of Norway and Lapland are admirable bulwarks； which cover the northern countries from the wind； so that at Stockholm； which is about fifty…nine degrees latitude； the earth produces plants； fruits； and corn； and that about Abo； which is sixty…one degrees； and even to sixty…three and sixty…four； there are mines of silver； and the land is fruitful enough。〃
We see also in these relations 〃that Great Tartary； situated to the south of Siberia； is also exceedingly cold； that the country will not admit of cultivation； that nothing can be found but pasturage for flocks and herds； that trees will not grow there； but only brambles； as in Iceland； that there are； near China and India； some countries where there grows a kind of millet； but that neither corn nor rice will ripen； that there is scarcely a place in Chinese Tartary at forty…three； forty…four； and forty…five degrees where it does not freeze seven or eight months in the year； so that it is as cold as Iceland； though it might be imagined； from its situation； to be as hot as the south of France； that there are no cities； except four or five towards the eastern ocean； and some which the Chinese； for political reasons； have built near China； that in the rest of Great Tartary there are only a few situated in Buchar； Turkestan； and Cathay； that the reason of this extreme cold proceeds from the nature of the nitrous earth； full of saltpetre and sand； and more particularly from the height of the land。 Father Verbiest found that a certain place； eighty leagues north of the great wall； towards the source of Kavamhuran； exceeded the height of the sea near Pekin three thousand geometrical paces； that this height＇4＇ is the cause that though almost all the great rivers of Asia have their source in this country； there is； however； so great a want of water that it can be inhabited only near the rivers and lakes。〃
These facts being laid down； I reason thus： Asia has properly no temperate zone； as the places situated in a very cold climate immediately touch upon those which are exceedingly hot； that is； Turkey； Persia； India； China； Korea； and Japan。
In Europe； on the contrary； the temperate zone is very extensive； though situated in climates widely different from each other； there being no affinity between the climates of Spain and Italy and those of Norway and Sweden。 But as the climate grows insensibly cold upon our advancing from south to north； nearly in proportion to the latitude of each country； it thence follows that each resembles the country joining it； that there is no very extraordinary difference between them； and that； as I have just said； the temperate zone is very extensive。
Hence it comes that in Asia； the strong nations are opposed to the weak； the warlike； brave； and active people touch immediately upon those who are indolent； effeminate； and timorous； the one must； therefore； conquer； and the other be conquered。 In Europe； on the contrary； strong nations are opposed to the strong； and those who join each other have nearly the same courage。 This is the grand reason of the weakness of Asia； and of the strength of Europe； of the liberty of Europe； and of the slavery of Asia： a cause that I do not recollect ever to have seen remarked。 Hence it proceeds that liberty in Asia never increases； whilst in Europe it is enlarged or diminished； according to particular circumstances。
The Russian nobility have indeed been reduced to slavery by the ambition of one of their princes； but they have always discovered those marks of impatience and discontent which are never to be seen in the southern climates。 Have they not been able for a short time to establish an aristocratic government？ Another of the northern kingdoms has lost its laws； but we may trust to the climate that they are not lost in such a manner as never to be recovered。
4。 The Consequences resulting from this。 What we have now said is perfectly conformable to history。 Asia has been subdued thirteen times； eleven by the northern nations； and twice by those of the south。 In the early ages it was conquered three times by the Scythians； afterwards it was subdued once by the Medes； and once by the Persians； again by the Greeks； the Arabs； the Moguls； the Turks； the Tartars； the Persians； and the Afghans。 I mention only the Upper Asia； and say nothing of the invasions made in the rest of the south of that part of the world which has most frequently suffered prodigious revolutions。
In Europe； on the contrary； since the establishment of the Greek and Phoenician colonies； we know but of four great changes； the first caused by the conquest of the Romans； the second by the inundation of barbarians； who destroyed those very Romans； the third by the victories of Charlemagne； and the la